Defence HQ refutes claim of deployment of troops in Lagos

THE Defence Headquarters, Abuja, on Thursday, debunked claims being that the Federal Government ordered the deployment of troops in Lagos to halt protests against the fuel subsidy removal. Director of Defence Information, Colonel Mohammed Yerima, briefing newsmen in Abuja in reaction to calls for removal of soldiers from the streets of Lagos, said there was no iota of truth in the allegation.He revealed that the soldiers seen on the streets of Lagos were still the same men of the Special Task Force, Operation MESA, set up and sponsored by the Lagos State government long before the fuel subsidy protest.

Colonel Yerima said the special task force was set up by the state government for the purpose of supporting the police in protecting lives and property as is the case in many parts of the country.

He said: “The attention of the Defence Headquarters has been drawn to the unsubstantiated claims by a section of the public alleging that the Federal Government ordered the deployment of troops in Lagos to halt protests against the fuel subsidy removal.

“While the Defence Headquarters do not wish to join issues with any individual or groups regarding the matter, we wish to state categorically, in the interest of the larger society, that there is no element of truth in those claims.

“The soldiers seen on the streets of Lagos are still the same men of the Special Task Force code-named Operation MESA set up and sponsored by the Lagos State government long before the fuel subsidy protest, for the purpose of supporting the civil police in protecting life and property, as is the case in many parts of the country,” he stated.

Yerima further clarified that the men of the Task Force, who are currently in Lagos, had been there and were not brought from outside Lagos.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State government has denied the claim by the military authorities that the deployment of soldiers on the streets of Lagos is at the request of the Lagos State government.

It challenged the military authorities to show proof of the request of troops deployment to the streets of Lagos State.



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